Vauxhall Heritage to Exhibit Icons

For the first time in its 72-year history, a selection of cars from Vauxhall Heritage’s famous collection will be on public display from next month, telling the incredible story of Vauxhall Motors rise from a niche sporting car manufacturer to one of the UK’s best-known automotive brands. A collection we have been lucky enough to have a look around and in some cases, even drive, this is not to be missed. While modern Vauxhalls might be somewhat lacking, the cars of its past tell a wonderful and exciting story. Cars like the Lotus Carlton are well worth getting up close and personal with. 

‘Vauxhall – Made in Luton’ opens on September 5 at Stockwood Discovery Centre, Luton – a stone’s-throw from where almost all the exhibits were originally manufactured.

The main exhibition will include ten of Vauxhall’s most significant Luton-built cars from the last 115 years, book-ended by the very first model to be produced at the famous Kimpton Road factory – a 1905 7/9hp – to the last passenger car to roll of the line – a 2002 Vectra, before the plant started to produce LCVs exclusively.

As well as the main exhibition cars, which will be on display until Easter 2021, each month ‘Vauxhall – Made in Luton’ will feature a different ‘hero’ car, starting with the chrome- and fin-laden 1959 PA Velox, which brought a welcome slice of colourful Americana to austere Fifties’ Britain. Other ‘heroes’ include the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton, Firenza HPF ‘Droopsnoot’, and OE-Type 30-98, Britain’s first 100mph car.

‘This is a perfect opportunity for the public to get up close and personal with cars from our collection that are normally only seen via the hundred-or-so media loans that we arrange each year,’ said Simon Hucknall, Vauxhall’s Head of PR. ‘There are some extremely rare and valuable cars on display, but many that will conjure ‘my-dad-had-one-of-those’ memories, too. Most importantly, it paints a wonderful social picture of Vauxhall’s importance to the Luton community, through all the highs and lows of the twentieth century.’

Karen Perkins, Director of Culture and Engagement at The Culture Trust Luton added: ‘The Culture Trust is passionate about Luton, its heritage and its people. Vauxhall has been an integral part of our community’s landscape for 115 years and we are proud and excited to host such a unique and rarely seen exhibition.’

If you’re keen to know more about the heritage of Vauxhall, and have a close up look at some of its brightest stars as well as some forgotten but utterly wondrous concepts, this exhibition isn’t to be missed. Plus, after the nonexistent show season of 2020, it will be nice to have something to look forward to! You can find all the information about the exhibition by visiting the website.